Well, isn't this refreshing: A news outlet eschewing all pretense of attaboy optimism, predicting instead that a Vegas line of a three-touchdown beatdown for the home team really ought to be a five-touchdown curbstomping.

Advertisement

Sportspress Northwest, a purveyor of hard truths founded by refugees of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, predicts that LSU may double up the seemingly generous 23.5-point spread on tonight's game against the Washington Huskies. Forget any fealty to Seattle readers' feelings or to the gentlemen's decorum, generally to grease continued access to the team, that colors most local college coverage. Instead: jaundice! Beneath the headline "Huskies Set Up For Saturday Night Massacre," the staff balls up Washington fans' frail hope and smears it into oily oblivion, like fresh blackhead pus onto Dungarees:

Oddsmakers have installed the Louisiana State Tigers as a 23 1/2-point favorite over the Washington Huskies Saturday night, and the amazement is that the nation's No. 3 team (both polls) is only a three-touchdown pick. Given the following numbers, a five-touchdown spread, maybe even six, seems more appropriate.

A 41-14 winner over North Texas State last week, LSU has won 38 consecutive non-conference games, the best streak in the nation, and that's just for openers. …

Washington probably should have scheduled Idaho this week. But Steve Sarkisian‘s Huskies, who eked out a 21-12 victory over San Diego State in their season opener, have other problems.

The Huskies will not have running back Jesse Callier and right tackle Ben Riva, injured against San Diego State. Callier suffered a non-contact injury when his knee buckled, and is out for the season with a torn ACL.

"Oh, man, that's big," Sarkisian said of Callier's ACL tear.

In between there's a raft of Tigers facts; suffice it that LSU simply doesn't lose many games, and hasn't lost a regular-season game against a non-conference opponent since 2002. Other than the injuries, though, it's not clear why the Sportsnet Northwest gang expects Washington to get so thoroughly obliterated. Lose, sure. Lose by five or six touchdowns? That'd be Miami-grade bad.

Advertisement

If sweet nothings are more to your taste, the Seattle Times coos with this hed and deck: "Huskies looking forward to chance to shock LSU: When Washington plays at LSU on Saturday it will be more than a three-touchdown underdog. But coach Steve Sarkisian and his players say they're ready for the challenge." Godspeed, you plucky Huskies! Your hometown fishwrap is proud to support your delusions of world-shockery!